Navigating Electric Vehicles: Public Charging
Electric vehicles are more popular than ever. But if you're accustomed to fueling up as a gas station, you may wonder how it works to refuel EVs.
It's more convenient than you may think. Home charging is a great option, if it's available. You can simply plug in your EV every night and recharge while you sleep.
If you drive more than 40 miles per day, and you have a fully electric vehicle, then you will likely need a Level 2 charger that provides up to 30 miles of range per hour of charging. ENERGY STAR®-certified Level 2 EV chargers provide the same functionality as non-certified models but use 40% less energy in standby mode. To encourage the purchase of an ENERGY STAR Level 2 charger, SWEPCO offers a $250 SWEPCO rebate to help cover the cost of purchasing one.
Away from home, public charging stations are getting easier to find in parking lots of shopping centers or stores, at restaurants, even at many employers. In fact, charging infrastructure is on the rise across the country, with more charging stations being added from coast to coast.
These stations offer higher levels of charging, with Level 2 charging options and DC fast charging options that provide as much as 4 miles of range per minute of charging. EVs have evolved to include better battery life and range, so a new vehicle can go a lot farther on a single charge compared to models from only a few years ago.
Go ahead and try to find an EV charging option close to where you live, work and play the most. You may be surprised.